This tutorial show you how to use JAXB to convert object to XML in Jersey,and return it back to user.

1. Dependency

To integrate JAXB with Jersey,no extra dependency is required. Just include “jersey-server.jar” will do.

2. JAXB Annotation

Annotate object with JAXB annotation,for conversion later.

import javax.xml.bind.annotation.XmlAttribute;
import javax.xml.bind.annotation.XmlElement;
import javax.xml.bind.annotation.XmlRootElement;

@XmlRootElement(name = "customer")
public class Customer {

    String name;
    int pin;

    @XmlElement
    public String getName() {
        return name;
    }

    public void setName(String name) {
        this.name = name;
    }

    @XmlAttribute
    public int getPin() {
        return pin;
    }

    public void setPin(int pin) {
        this.pin = pin;
    }

}

Above object will convert into following XML format.

<customer pin="value">
    <name>value</name>
  </customer>

3. Jersey and XML

To return a XML file,annotate the method with @Produces(MediaType.APPLICATION_XML). Jersey will convert the JAXB annotated object into XML file automatically.

import javax.ws.rs.GET;
import javax.ws.rs.Path;
import javax.ws.rs.PathParam;
import javax.ws.rs.Produces;
import javax.ws.rs.core.MediaType;
import com.mkyong.Customer;

@Path("/xml/customer")
public class XMLService {

    @GET
    @Path("/{pin}")
    @Produces(MediaType.APPLICATION_XML)
    public Customer getCustomerInXML(@PathParam("pin") int pin) {

        Customer customer = new Customer();
        customer.setName("mkyong");
        customer.setPin(pin);

        return customer;

    }

}

4. Demo

When URI pattern “xml/customer/{param value}” is requested,a formatted XML file will be returned.

URL : http://localhost:8080/RESTfulExample/rest/xml/customer/999